Tuesday, March 22, 2005

DeLay Clip Roundup

In the NYT today, conservative columnist David Brooks has plenty to criticize as he gazes upon the GOP generally and Tom DeLay specifically. He despairs of the make-money-fast culture among the conservative political corps now that the Republicans control Congress and the White House. Lobbyists and activists--many with strong ties to Tom DeLay--have been quick to compromise principles if there is lucre involved:

"Soon the creative revolutionaries were blending the high-toned forms of the think tank with the low-toned scams of the buckraker. Ed Buckham, Tom DeLay's former chief of staff, helped run the U.S. Family Network, which supported the American family by accepting large donations and leasing skyboxes at the MCI Center, according to Roll Call. Michael Scanlon, DeLay's former spokesman, organized a think tank called the American International Center, located in a house in Rehoboth Beach, Del., which was occupied, according to Andrew Ferguson's devastating compendium in The Weekly Standard, by a former "lifeguard of the year" and a former yoga instructor."

There's more great stuff there...read the column!

Also in the NYT, an interesting article on how the GOP has embraced the Terri Schiavo case as a political cause, and how Tom DeLay, for one, sees the issue as being heaven sent to help him with his current troubles. "One thing that God has brought to us is Terri Schiavo, to help elevate the visibility of what is going on in America...This is exactly the issue that is going on in America, of attacks against the conservative movement, against me and against many others," the paper reports that DeLay told a conference organized by the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian group.

Finally, the AP reports that the "man known as the Hammer is taking a pounding" in Washington these days, and that "he finds himself in a situation similar to what Gingrich faced." Stay tuned.